Bedstead



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WM. S. TODD, OF MECHANICSVILLE, IOVA.

BEDSTEAD.

Specification of Letters :Patent No. 21,527, dated September 14:, 1858.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM S. TODD, of h/Iechanicsville, in the county of Cedar and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Eedsteads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l, is a top or birds-eye view of the improved bedstead. Fig. 2, is a transverse section of ditto.

Similar letters in the figures refer to corresponding parts.

The nature of this invention and improvement consists in attaching the horizontal side rails of the bedstead to the head and foot posts, by hinges, those on each side rail being arranged in reverse positions to each other, so as to enable the two side rails, and the foot and head rails, to be folded together almost parallel with each other, to facilitate the movement of the same from place to place and through narrow spaces, the sacking being formed of cords so attached to the rails as to admit this movement of the parts, and suitable means provided for bracing the rails when distended to the position necessary to receive the bed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The head and foot rails A, A', and boards C, O', are secured to their respective head and foot posts B, B', by mortises and tenons or in any other convenient and approved manner, and the latter are jointed to the ends of the side rails D, D', by ordinary butt hinges E, E', the wings of the hinges attached respectively to the head andfoot posts, and the ends of the side rails, being in reverse positions, with the butts of the former toward the outside of the bedstead, and those of the latter toward the inside of the same, so as to enable the side and foot and head rails to be folded together, almost parallel with each other, and the whole bedstead reduced to such a narrow space as to enable it to pass through door ways and other narrow spaces, as before stated, without requiring it to be taken apart. The sacking upon which the bedding rests is formed by a cord G, fastened at one end to a pin H, driven in the top of one of the side rails near the head or foot post, and thence extended across to the other side rail and partially around a similar pin, arranged immediately opposite, and another pin on the same rail, and thence around two other pins on the opposite rail, and so on around pins successively to the opposite end of the bedstead, when it is extended successively around, in a similar manner, correspondingly arranged pins on the head and foot rails, and finally fastened at its end to one (I-I') of the pins on the foot or head rail, situated next the respective foot or head post, at which it terminates.

lVhen the bedstead is distended to the position required to sustain a bed, as represented in the drawings, it is held rmly by an oscillating brace bar, or rod I, bent at right angles at its ends, with one of its bent ends inserted vertically into a suitable box J, secured to the inside of the foot rail A', of the bedstead, midway between its ends, so as to admit its opposite right angled en d to be moved (the opposite end serving as a pivot) next either of the side rails D, D', and inserted in openings in the bottoms of grooves L, formed in projections on the inner sides of said rails, next their lower surfaces. In this manner this bar or rod I, is made to act as a diagonal brace, and when it is desired to detach the right angled end from the openings in the slots L, radial cams or wings K, on the ends of horizontal shafts M, passing through openings in the side rails, and provided with thumb knobs on their outer ends, are turned upward under the horizontal portions of the right angled end of said rod I, which raises it from the openings.

The bedstead can then be folded together for facility of transportation, as before stated, the right angled ends of the said rods I, traversing freely in the grooves at the sides of the rails, admit such folding, and subsequent distending to its original position.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. Attaching the ends of the side rails D, D', of the bedstead to the foot and head posts B, B', by the butt hinges E, E', arranged in reverse positions with each other,

so as to enable the said side rails and the angled end of the said rod from the openhead. and foot rails to be folded together, ings n the projections on the inner sides of 10 almost pmrallflel with eacll othekr)7 iin the Inanthe side rails Substantially as described. ner and' ort e purpose escr e 5 2. I also Claim the combination of the WM' S TQDD' right angled brace or rod I, groove L, in Witnesses: which it traverses and turning Winged or D. F. COMSTOGK, cam shafts M, for dsengagng the right S. A. GLEASON. 

